Chapter 1159: Nowhere to Go

Hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, Ye Mo and his companions emerged from the teleportation formation. He quickly packed away the materials. Ye Mo was pleased; the formation was stealthy and had a considerable range. Soon, his Blood Moon vanished into the clouds.

Meanwhile, Lu Wuhu was besieged by four Truth Realization State cultivators. Despite wielding a low-grade immortal artifact, he coughed up blood after being attacked by two level-nine Truth Realization State cultivators, one peak-stage, and one mid-stage cultivator. Lu Wuhu, even without Ye Mo, would never permit a search of his ship. However, he was no match for four Truth Realization State cultivators simultaneously, especially since one possessed a low-grade immortal artifact like his own. He couldn't afford to divert his attention. Ji Ling's ship had already been destroyed by other Truth Realization and Disaster Transformation State cultivators.

The battlefield was chaotic. Although most cultivators remained uninvolved, some were still caught in the crossfire. A Cauldron Filling State cultivator, outside the main battle, was swept away by a dark ray.

Lu Wuhu deflected another Shapeless Black Rainbow attack. While he dismembered a mid-stage Truth Realization State cultivator, a green sword light pierced his chest, inflicting grievous wounds. He swallowed a pill, unable to continue fighting. He knew further engagement meant certain death; there were simply too many Truth Realization State cultivators. The Pill City Truth Realization State cultivator was engaged, and Heaven Demon Sect's Le Yao was severely injured and carried away by a sect elder. They retreated immediately.

Feeling his cultivation essence weakening, Lu Wuhu fled in a red beam of light.

Twelve Truth Realization State, seventeen Disaster Transformation State, and nine Cauldron Filling State cultivators participated in the battle—the largest engagement in five hundred years. Lu Wuhu killed one Truth Realization State cultivator, but he was severely wounded and his whereabouts unknown. Three Cauldron Filling State cultivators—from Heaven Star Sect and Golden Sword Sect—died protecting Ye Mo. Three Disaster Transformation State cultivators perished: one from Black Ice Sect, Ji Ling the formation grandmaster, and one masked individual. Additionally, Ye Mo's disciple Gu Wenqian and Sword Valley elder Mi Zhenjie were killed.

This battle sent shockwaves through the South Peace State cultivation realm. Despite the numerous deaths, Ye Mo and his companions had vanished.

Pill City remained silent, even though everyone knew the Infinity Sect and Lightning Cloud Sect were responsible. This inaction was unlike them. Consequently, no one dared to speak out. Black Ice Sect, having lost a Disaster Transformation State elder, said nothing. Ji Ling's death meant little to the All Formation Sect, an eight-star sect; they couldn't retaliate, despite possessing the South Peace State's strongest defensive and offensive formations. Formations, after all, were not portable.

Blood Moon’s speed pleased Ye Mo; traversing the Heartless Sea should pose no problem.

“Brother, what’s Mo Yue City like?” Tang Beiwei asked, sitting beside him. She'd had little opportunity for conversation these past few days.

Ye Mo smiled. “You'll love it. It's like Luo Yue City, but more beautiful…”

“Are Lu qian bei and Ji qian bei alright?” Luo Ying asked.

Ye Mo shook his head. “Nothing will happen to them. Even if stopped, as long as Lu Wuhu and Ji Ling qian bei allowed a ship search, the Infinity and Lightning Cloud Sects would leave upon finding nothing. Once Ji Ling qian bei arrives at Mo Yue City and sets up extreme-grade defense formations, even if they want to kill me, they won't dare attack.”

Luo Ying shook her head. “Lu qian bei is a master; he'd never allow a ship search—impossible.”

Ye Mo leaped to his feet, breaking into a cold sweat. He'd overlooked Lu Wuhu's pride. Lu Wuhu tolerated minor inconveniences, but a ship search was unthinkable; it would be humiliating.

A bloody battle was inevitable. Ye Mo instantly regretted summoning Lu Wuhu.

“Stop!” Ye Mo ordered Lin Yiban, the ship's pilot. “Change course; we can't go to Mo Yue City.”

Lin Yiban obeyed without question.

“What’s wrong?” Tang Beiwei asked, alarmed.

Ye Mo's face was grim. “I fear they've engaged in battle. Susu was right; a master like Lu Wuhu would never permit a search.”

“What do we do?” Tang Beiwei worried.

Before Ye Mo could answer, a messenger flying sword arrived. His face contorted upon reading it.

“What happened?” The others gathered around.

Ye Mo sheathed the sword, clenching his fists. “The Infinity and Lightning Cloud Sects stopped our ship. Lu qian bei was severely wounded and escaped. Ji Ling qian bei, Black Ice Sect's Shi qian bei, Heaven Star Sect and Golden Sword Sect's three Cauldron Filling State qian beis, Sword Valley's Mi Zhenjie qian bei, and Hu Wen pill king are dead. Heaven Demon Sect's Le Yao qian bei is critically injured.”

Luo Fei gasped. Sword Valley's sole Hollow Spirit State elder was dead. Xin Zhida wept; she'd been Gu Wenqian's student, and now her master and martial brother were gone.

Silence fell. Even Ji Ling was dead; the Infinity and Lightning Cloud Sects clearly no longer cared. Ning Qingxue rose, taking Ye Mo's hand to comfort him.

After a long moment, Ye Mo said harshly, “This is my fault. If I’d waited for the Pill City city lords to return, this wouldn't have happened.” He knew, however, that the Infinity and Lightning Cloud Sects would have pursued him regardless, even if he'd waited years. He needed to increase his power desperately; he couldn't waste time in Pill City. While safe, he couldn't enter the Golden Page World to cultivate nor seek out spirit marrow.

“The messenger sword is from a Pill City Truth Realization State elder. I can't return to Mo Yue City.”

Ye Mo turned to Lin Yiban. “We can't return to Mo Yue City. Without Ji Ling qian bei's formations, going is pointless. They won't attack Mo Yue City as long as we stay away. The Pill City city lords will return eventually; as long as I live, they'll hesitate.”

“South,” Ye Mo declared. Without power, he needed to borrow others'. If the city lords could be distracted once, they could be twice. He decided he wouldn't return to fight those nine-star sects until he gained sufficient power. The title of Pill City pill king meant little outside the city; people would only be kind if they needed his pill concoction.

“Extreme south? That's the Ice God Forbidden Grounds,” Lin Yiban said.

Ye Mo nodded. “Yes. Only there will we be safe. Only there will we find what we need.” Shan Bingfeng's map led them there.